Brooklyn Nets: 3 trades that could get James Harden to BK
By Adam Weinrib
1. Kyrie Irving and Two Future Firsts
Come on, do the Nets really expect all three of these people to play together?
Sure, we’ve seen Big Threes before, but has there ever been a collection of superstars hinging entirely on three ball-dominant scorers?
Is the anticipation here that Irving would sacrifice his scoring almost entirely to keep Harden and Durant happy? Even after plotting for over a year to join Durant and be his wingman? The introduction of a third extremely prominent variable doesn’t seem like something Irving would be amenable to, which is why it’s no surprise that recent rumblings indicate that KD is the one specifically pulling the strings here on Brooklyn’s end.
Irving’s problem, whenever he’s run into one in this league, has stemmed from the idea that he doesn’t really want to be a traditional point guard. Dazzling ball-handling? Check. Special finishing skills? Absolutely. But when the clock is ticking down, he’d rather be the side assassin who can tear a team’s heart out from the outside (a la the 2016 Finals) than a slash-and-kicker who waits for Durant’s glory. And this doesn’t even take into account exactly how often Harden needs the ball in his hands, too. Isn’t that why Chris Paul left for greener pastures?
Perhaps Irving would prefer his own team in Houston instead?
We don’t see a way that this threesome functions effectively in an empty building in Brooklyn for a bizarre 2020-21 season, featuring all the worst vibes in the world.
If Irving is the key piece dangled by the Nets, that could solve the cost issue, the fit issue, the roster gutting, the mood swings…basically everything that doesn’t work about a Harden addition.
Unless Milwaukee steps in and offers the recently-acquired Jrue Holiday for Harden, this would be our preferred outcome. Don’t shoot the messenger here. Just think about what makes sense.
